The chipmaker has appointed Joon H. Kim and law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to lead an independent investigation into reports of a foreign intelligence effort involving its chief executive.
SANTA CLARA, California – NVIDIA’s independent board members have hired former acting US Attorney Joon H. Kim and prominent law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to conduct an independent investigation into reports that chief executive Jensen Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation.
In a statement released on Tuesday, November 10, the company said its independent directors had retained Kim and his firm to conduct a thorough investigation, following the board’s announcement of the inquiry on Sunday.
Kim previously served as acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, one of the most prominent federal prosecutorial offices in the United States.
The appointment places an external legal team at the centre of an investigation that could have implications for NVIDIA’s corporate governance, national security concerns and relationships with international business partners.
Why NVIDIA’s Board Ordered an Investigation
The investigation follows reports that Huang may have been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation involving Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based technology company Megaspeed International.
US intelligence officials reportedly suspect Alice Huang of gathering information for Beijing, although the allegations have not been publicly established as proven espionage.
The two individuals share a surname but are not related.
Reports have also raised questions about Megaspeed’s business dealings with NVIDIA, including concerns that the Singapore-based company may have helped circumvent US export restrictions on advanced artificial intelligence chips destined for China.
According to The New York Times, Megaspeed purchased more than $4.8 billion worth of NVIDIA chips over two years.
NVIDIA’s board announced on November 8 that it was launching an independent investigation following reports that its founder and CEO had been the target of a foreign intelligence effort.
In its initial statement, the board said it had no reason to believe that US national security or NVIDIA’s confidential information had been compromised.
It also said Huang supported the review and had committed to cooperating fully.
Jensen Huang Acknowledges Personal Relationship
The controversy has also drawn attention to Huang’s personal relationship with Alice Huang.
The NVIDIA CEO acknowledged having an extramarital affair and apologised to his wife, family and the company.
He said he supported the investigation and would cooperate with the process.
The board has expressed confidence in Huang and his leadership team, indicating that the investigation is intended to establish the facts surrounding the reports rather than announce a finding of wrongdoing.
Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump said the FBI was investigating the matter. Trump said he believed Huang had no knowledge that the woman was allegedly involved in espionage.
The allegations have also attracted congressional attention, with senior Democratic lawmakers expressing interest in further scrutiny.
Investigation Comes Amid Shareholder and Market Pressure
The controversy has created additional pressure on NVIDIA, one of the world’s most valuable technology companies and a leading supplier of processors used in artificial intelligence systems.
On Monday, November 9, a shareholder filed a lawsuit against NVIDIA and Huang, accusing them of misleading investors in their public responses to reports about the CEO’s relationship with Alice Huang and the potential national security implications.
The complaint alleges that the company failed to disclose information that could have affected investors’ assessment of its business risks.
NVIDIA shares also declined amid the controversy, with the Associated Press reporting that the company lost approximately $190 billion in market value on Monday alone.
